"Seeing my mom (in the stands) was awesome," he said. "I broke down in tears."

Ellis is from Louisiana and almost decided to attend Tulane...

Collin Ellis scored two touchdowns last year at California — not exactly a common occurrence for a linebacker — but his favorite memory came after the game.

"Seeing my mom (in the stands) was awesome," he said. "I broke down in tears."

Ellis is from Louisiana and almost decided to attend Tulane...

(Teddy Greenstein)

But given that Mark was NU's only All-America player in the last eight seasons, why would Shuler switch to a jersey that will beg for comparisons?

He has moxie. And he already has endured mammoth expectations.

Shuler arrived at Rutgers in 2011 with the goal, he said, of being "the hometown hero." In the Jersey Shore town of Long Branch, he starred at quarterback and defensive back and was the state's top sprinter.

He took a visit to Northwestern that he described to WildcatReport.com as "perfect." He also examined Stanford and Notre Dame. His offer list included Michigan, Wisconsin and Florida. He was mic'd up when he formally signed with Rutgers.

But all that attention and speed didn't translate to success. He caught just six passes in 20 games over two seasons, with a Rutgers observer putting it bluntly: "He could not catch the ball consistently."

Shuler's best effort — seven catches for 170 yards, by his recollection — came in an intrasquad scrimmage. A coaching change and chatter about a switch to cornerback led to a decision to transfer.

"Northwestern," Shuler said, "was the best fit for me."

He'll start Saturday against California at slot receiver. He'll return kickoffs. He or safety Ibraheim Campbell will handle punt returns. He has joked with defensive coaches about playing both ways.

"Whatever the team needs," he said. "It's fun. Trying to be out there every play, it's like being a kid again."

Campbell and linebacker Collin Ellis have practiced against Shuler since last fall, when he sat out per NCAA transfer rules.

"He has big-play capabilities any time he has his hands on the ball," Campbell said. "I'm happy for him because it's a long time to be practicing without actually putting it out there."

Said Ellis: "He has lots of energy. He's a happy guy, always smiling and running around. He's a funny dude, an extremely hard worker. Hopefully he will bring a spark to our offense."

Northwestern is desperate for one after totaling only nine plays of 40-plus yards last season — tied for the fewest in the Big Ten.

Fitzgerald was surprised to hear Wednesday that Shuler had trouble holding on to the ball at Rutgers.

"We've had zero issues with him," he said. "Will he be better against Illinois (in the season finale) than he will be Saturday? Absolutely. My expectation is for him to improve every week, like the team."

Asked which NFL players he admires, Shuler mentioned DeSean Jackson for his "playmaking ability" and Steve Smith as a "tough-nosed football player who plays with a chip on his shoulder, like I do."

Shuler's chip is a product of falling short in his quest to become that hometown hero.